Background

The Columbus Avenue Neighborhood Transportation Study was a joint effort of community partners Revitalize and Energize the Northeast and Waterfront of San Francisco (RENEW SF), the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (Transportation Authority), and a consulting team led by Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates (Nelson\Nygaard). The Study's objective was to identify changes to transportation infrastructure and policies that could enhance the livability and economic viability of the Columbus Avenue corridor, benefit residents, merchants and visitors, and enjoy broad community support. The Study area included Columbus Avenue between the Transamerica Pyramid and Ghirardelli Square. Read the Project Fact Sheet (PDF).

Community-Based Process

The Study included two rounds of public outreach, extensive data collection, and the development and evaluation of three conceptual design alternatives. A key objective of the Study was to identify and prioritize transportation needs from the community's perspective, and work with community partners to develop transportation improvements.

RENEW SF served as the primary liaison between the Transportation Authority and the many stakeholders with an interest in transportation issues in the study area by helping with publicity efforts, conducting event logistics, and co-hosting outreach events. The Chinatown Community Development Center provided a link to the Chinese-speaking stakeholders of Columbus Avenue, providing translation services and organizing outreach events for Chinese speakers. Read the complete summaries of public meetings and workshops:

Identified Priorities

RENEW SF and the Transportation Authority conducted technical analysis and community outreach to identify the top priorities for transportation improvements along Columbus Avenue. Stakeholders identified the following issues as top transportation priorities for Columbus Avenue:

Pedestrian conditions

Streetscape vitality

Transit service efficiency

Coordination with the planning for Central Subway

Parking management

Based on community input and technical analysis, the locations along Columbus identified as most in need are:

Intersection of Columbus with Green and Stockton

Intersection of Columbus with Union and Powell

Columbus Avenue between Broadway and Filbert

The study team conducted a scientific survey of pedestrians using Columbus Avenue during the weekday and weekend peak visitor periods. We learned that transit and walking are the main modes used by both visitors and residents of the area, regardless of income. Respondents' top dislikes include street congestion, slow transit, and parking availability, and their most preferred new investment would be in faster and more reliable transit service. Read more of the findings in our Pedestrian Survey Report (1.2MB PDF).

The study team conducted a parking study which found that about 40% of drivers to Columbus Avenue pay nothing for parking, however, about 30% pay more than $10 to park. This indicates that parking supply is bifurcated into under-priced on-street parking and relatively expensive off-street parking, which encourages drivers to circle for a free space. Read more of the findings and recommendations in the Parking Occupancy and Turnover Evaluation (2.3MB PDF).

The Study Team evaluated the benefits and impacts of each Alternative based on technical assessment and community feedback. Alternative 3 provides the greatest benefits for pedestrians and to the Columbus Avenue street atmosphere.

About Flex Lanes and Flex Space

1. Flex lanes: A Near-Term Approach to Sidewalk Widening

This concept is recommended in the City's Better Streets Plan. Café or restaurant owners may apply to the City for a permit to place tables and chairs in curbside parking spaces in front of their businesses, and the seating areas are kept separate from adjacent spaces and travel lanes using planters or other semi-permanent fixtures. Spaces may be used for parking part of the time, and café seating at other times. As each curbside parking space is approximately 160 square feet, several tables might fit into the space typically occupied by a single car, benefiting business owners as well as pedestrians, who gain additional space on sidewalks where seating is removed or relocated. There are approximately 72 curbside parking and loading spaces along Columbus between Broadway and Filbert.

2. Flex Space: Gaining Sidewalk and Managing Parking

Permanently widening the Columbus Avenue sidewalks enough to accommodate tables and chairs would require removing parallel parking, and accommodating deliveries through a flex space arrangement. A flex space is a sidewalk that allows trucks to park to load and unload. Parking management improvements Flex space implementation should be paired with to avoid worsening community frustrations with parking availability.

Study Team

RENEW SF and the Transportation Authority co-lead the plan. RENEW SF is a coalition of concerned citizens committed to improving the North East and waterfront sections of the city. The San Francisco County Transportation Authority supported the Columbus Avenue Neighborhood Transportation Study effort through technical assistance and oversight funded by the Proposition K Neighborhood Transportation Planning program. The Prop K half-cent local transportation sales tax program and New Expenditure Plan passed by voters in November 2003 dedicates a category of funding to support neighborhood transportation planning efforts that result in local transportation improvement projects based on widespread community involvement.

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

The Columbus Avenue Neighborhood Transportation Study was guided by an interagency technical advisory committee including community representatives, MUNI, Department of Parking and Traffic, Department of Public Works, Planning Department, Public Utilities Commission, Mayor's Office, and the Transportation Authority. The TAC met periodically to review technical materials and help coordinate inter-agency efforts.

Chinese language materials

Contact Information

RENEW SF and the Transportation Authority would like to get your feedback on the Columbus Avenue design alternatives. Please fill out our on-line survey or contact RENEW SF or the Transportation Authority directly.

To learn more or to be added to the mailing list, visit the RENEW SF website: www.renewsf.org, contact the Transportation Authority by email, or call the Transportation Authority at 415-522-4800.

The Board will consider recommending appointment of one member to the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) at its November 13, 2018 meeting. The vacancy is the result of the resignation of Hala Hijazi (District 2 resident). Neither staff nor CAC members make recommendations regarding CAC appointments. CAC applications can be submitted through the Transportation Authority’s website at www.sfcta.org/cac.

8. Adopt the Final Freeway Corridor Management Study Phase 2 Report, Authorize the Executive Director to Amend Cooperative Agreement No. 04-2647 with the California Department of Transportation for the U.S. 101/I-280 Managed Lanes for an Additional $152,000 in a Total Amount Not to Exceed $227,000, and Approve a Prop K/Local Partnership Program Fund Exchange in Prop K Funds for the U.S. 101/I-280 Managed Lanes Project – ACTION*resolutionenclosurepresentation

9. Award a Two-Year Professional Services Contract with MSA Design & Consulting, Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $420,000 for Planning and Technical Services for the ConnectSF Streets and Freeways Study – ACTION*resolution

10. Award a Two-Year Professional Services Contract, with Options to Extend for Three Additional One-Year Periods, to SPTJ Consulting in an Amount Not to Exceed $480,000 for Computer Network and Maintenance Services – ACTION*resolution

Items from the Vision Zero Committee

11. [Final Approval] Approve a Resolution of Support Committing the Transportation Authority and Encouraging the Board of Supervisors and the Media to Pledge to Use “Crash” and “Collision” and not “Accident” in Recognition of World Day of Remembrance 2018 – ACTION*resolutionpresentation

Other Items

12. Introduction of New Items – INFORMATION

During this segment of the meeting, Commissioners may make comments on items not specifically listed above, or introduce or request items for future consideration.

Items considered for final approval by the Board shall be noticed as such with [Final Approval] preceding the item title.

The meeting proceedings can be viewed live or on demand after the meeting at www.sfgovtv.org. To know the exact cablecast times for weekend viewing, please call SFGovTV at (415) 554-4188 on Friday when the cablecast times have been determined.

The Legislative Chamber (Room 250) and the Committee Room (Room 263) in City Hall are wheelchair accessible. Meetings are real-time captioned and are cablecast open-captioned on SFGovTV, the Government Channel 26. Assistive listening devices for the Legislative Chamber and the Committee Room are available upon request at the Clerk of the Board’s Office, Room 244. To request sign language interpreters, readers, large print agendas or other accommodations, please contact the Clerk of the Board at (415) 522-4800. Requests made at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting will help to ensure availability. Attendees at all public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical-based products.

The nearest accessible BART station is Civic Center (Market/Grove/Hyde Streets). Accessible MUNI Metro lines are the F, J, K, L, M, N, T (exit at Civic Center or Van Ness Stations). MUNI bus lines also serving the area are the 5, 6, 7, 9, 19, 21, 47, and 49. For more information about MUNI accessible services, call (415) 701-4485. There is accessible parking in the vicinity of City Hall at Civic Center Plaza and adjacent to Davies Hall and the War Memorial Complex. Accessible curbside parking is available on Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place and Grove Street.

If any materials related to an item on this agenda have been distributed to the Board after distribution of the meeting packet, those materials are available for public inspection at the Transportation Authority at 1455 Market Street, Floor 22, San Francisco, CA 94103, during normal office hours.

Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code Sec. 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94102; (415) 252-3100; www.sfethics.org.